Virtualizing dcb settings for virtual network adapters

Abstract

Methods and devices for data packet transmission at a host computer device hosting a virtual machine may include receiving, at a virtual administrator component operating on the virtual machine, virtual enhanced transmission selection (ETS) settings information from the host computer device. The methods and devices may include creating at least one priority rule for tagging one or more data packets from an application executing on the virtual machine with a virtual priority value based on the virtual ETS settings information. The methods and devices may include tagging the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value based on the at least one priority rule. The methods and devices may include transmitting the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value to the host computer device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A host computer device, comprising:
 a memory to store data and instructions;   a processor in communication with the memory;   a virtual machine hosted by the memory and processor comprising a virtual administrator component in communication with the processor and the memory, wherein the virtual administrator component is operable to:
 receive virtual enhanced transmission selection (ETS) settings information from the host computer device; 
 create at least one priority rule for tagging one or more data packets from an application executing on the virtual machine with a virtual priority value based on the virtual ETS settings information; 
 tag the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value based on the at least one priority rule; and 
   transmit the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value to the host computer device.   
     
     
         2 . The host computer device of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual ETS settings information includes at least one virtual traffic class. 
     
     
         3 . The host computer device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one virtual traffic class corresponds to at least one traffic class of the host computer device. 
     
     
         4 . The host computer device of  claim 2 , wherein the virtual ETS settings information includes traffic class characteristics of at least one virtual traffic class. 
     
     
         5 . The host computer device of  claim 2 , wherein the virtual administrator component is further operable to create a virtual class policy based on the virtual ETS settings information that identifies a mapping of the virtual priority value assigned to the data packet to at least one virtual traffic channel assigned to the virtual machine. 
     
     
         6 . The host computer device of  claim 5 , wherein the virtual administrator component is further operable to select the at least one virtual traffic channel to transmit the one or more data packets to the host computer based on the virtual class policy. 
     
     
         7 . The host computer device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one priority rule defines a mapping between the virtual priority value and a type of application traffic. 
     
     
         8 . The host computer device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one priority rule applies a default priority value to the one or more data packets. 
     
     
         9 . A method of data packet transmission at a host computer device hosting a virtual machine, comprising:
 receiving, at a virtual administrator component operating on the virtual machine, virtual enhanced transmission selection (ETS) settings information from the host computer device;   creating at least one priority rule for tagging one or more data packets from an application executing on the virtual machine with a virtual priority value based on the virtual ETS settings information;   tagging the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value based on the at least one priority rule; and   transmitting the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value to the host computer device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the virtual ETS settings information includes at least one virtual traffic class. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one virtual traffic class corresponds to at least one traffic class of the host computer device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual ETS settings information includes traffic class characteristics of the at least one virtual traffic class. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 creating a virtual class policy based on the virtual ETS settings information that identifies a mapping of the virtual priority value assigned to the data packet to at least one virtual traffic channel assigned to the virtual machine.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 selecting the at least one virtual traffic channel to transmit the one or more data packets to the host computer based on the virtual class policy.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one priority rule defines a mapping between the virtual priority value and a type of application traffic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one priority rule applies a default priority value to the one or more data packets. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer device, comprising:
 at least one instruction for causing a virtual machine hosted by the computer device to receive virtual enhanced transmission selection (ETS) settings information from the computer device;   at least one instruction for causing the virtual machine hosted by the computer device to create at least one priority rule for tagging one or more data packets from an application executing on the virtual machine with a virtual priority value based on the virtual ETS settings information;   at least one instruction for causing the virtual machine hosted by the computer device to tag the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value based on the at least one priority rule; and   at least one instruction for causing the virtual machine hosted by the computer device to transmit the one or more data packets with the virtual priority value to the host computer device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual ETS settings information includes at least one virtual traffic class. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one virtual traffic class corresponds to at least one traffic class of the computer device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual ETS settings information includes traffic class characteristics of the at least one virtual traffic class.